Download Student Packet - Geography for Tomorrow

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Table of Contents
Table of Contents
1
Introduction
2
Essential Vocabulary
3
Your Own Vocabulary
4
What Is Geography?
5
Chapter 1: United States Political Geography
6
Chapter 2: United States Physical Geography
9
Chapter 3: Continents
12
Chapter 4: World Political Geography
15
Chapter 5: World Physical Geography
18
Chapter 6: World Cultures
21
Chapter 7: Global Interconnections and the U.S.
24
Chapter 8: Transportation and Infrastructure
27
Chapter 9: Mapping and Cartography
30
Chapter 10: Global Issues and Extremes
33
Project: Write a Blog Post
35
Conclusions
36
© 2016 Geography for Tomorrow Inc. All Rights Reserved. Neither this
document nor any part or subset of this document may be copied or distributed
without the written consent of Geography for Tomorrow Inc.
Lead Student Packet Developer: Arvind Sridhar
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Essential Vocabulary
1.
Peninsula-a piece of land surrounded on 3 sides by water but connected to land on the 4th side
2. Isthmus-a thin strip of land connecting two larger strips of land
3. Island-a piece of land surrounded by water
4. Panhandle-a thin piece of land that juts out into other states/countries
5. Archipelago-a chain of islands
6. Faults-cracks in the Earth’s crust, where earthquakes and volcanos occur; divides the crust into “plates”
7. Desert-a very dry region that has little rainfall
8. Mountain range-a chain of mountains that extends over a distance
9. Rainforest-a forest characterized by ample rainfall and a dense canopy of vegetation, found in the tropical
regions of South America, Africa, and Asia as well as in temperate regions on other continents
10. Map-a diagrammatic representation of an area of land or sea showing physical features, cities, roads, etc.
11.
Latitude-the horizontal lines that we have chosen to divide Earth and tell location with (like the Equator)
12. Longitude-the vertical lines drawn from the South to North pole and are used for location (Prime Meridian)
13. Rural-characterized by little population density and country life (agriculture and livestock are major aspects)
14. Urban-characterized by high population density and a myriad of man-made structures, including buildings
15. Culture-a broad term used to represent the customs, beliefs, values, and languages of a certain population
16. Ethnicity-belonging to a group that has a common national or cultural tradition (like “Arabs” or “English”)
17. Import-to bring into a country; Export-to ship out of a country
18. Renewable-of an energy source, something that can be replenished within a reasonable amount of time
19. Globalization-the state of increasing global interconnections, economically, culturally, and politically
20. Domestic-from one’s own nation/cultural group; Foreign-from outside of one’s own nation/cultural group
21. Demography-the study of the characteristics of the human population, such as size, growth, and density
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What Is Geography?
What to note: what geography is and why it is important to know about it. Also note down anything that you find
interesting from the first session.
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Chapter 1: United States
Political Geography
Class Notes
What to note: definitions and different aspects of cities, states, location, borders, and political structure
Also note: the locations and capitals of the various states we mention
Also note: the career topic of government
Reflect: what is the most interesting thing you learned today?
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Blank Map Fill-Out
Take 10 minutes to fill out as much of this map as you can, with the proper state names in the proper locations
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Questions
1.
Which state has the capital of Carson City: Rhode Island or Nevada?
2. What is the largest of the 50 states in the United States of America: Montana or Alaska?
3. Which state is home to the southernmost point of the United States: Hawaii or Florida?
4. Staten Island, the Bronx, and Queens are all districts in which city: Atlanta or New York City?
5. Which state is home to Glacier National Park and the city of Missoula: Alaska or Montana?
6. Which state contains famous bayous and has parishes instead of counties: Missouri or Louisiana
7. What is one of the predominant cash crops of Hawaii: sugarcane or apple?
8. Which capital city is the southernmost in the United States?
9. What is the northernmost state in the 48 contiguous states of the United States?
10. List the 5 largest cities in the United States and the states in which they are located in.
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Conclusions
Congratulations! You are now Geo-Literate!
You have successfully completed the Geography for Tomorrow 7-week certificate program.
You should be proud of the work that you have done.
The geographical knowledge and skills that you gained through this program can take you far
in career opportunities. You can pursue the career of your dreams, whether you want to go into
technology, government, economics, finance, or military service. Here is what the folks at the
USGS, a government agency that deals with geology research, have to say about geography:
“Cartography and geography are embedded in all aspects of USGS science. A strong
background in these fields is invaluable for students pursing a career in the natural sciences.”
Barack Obama, the President of the United States, also explains how important geography is
to the future of America:
“The study of geography is about more than just memorizing places on a map. It's about
understanding the complexity of our world, appreciating the diversity of cultures that exists.
It's about using all that knowledge to help bridge divides and bring people together.”
With your geo-literacy, you are in demand for jobs in both technological and governmental
fields. You understand how the world works, and you are now connected to the world. You have
the power to become the leader of tomorrow. You are the true informed American citizen of
tomorrow. You are Geography for Tomorrow.
Go forth and amaze the world!
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